Final Four: Chaos erupts at student-ticket distribution

Saturday

Mar 31, 2012 at 12:01 AMMar 31, 2012 at 10:22 PM

NEW ORLEANS -- Confusion and chaos surrounded the student ticket distribution for the Final Four this morning, according to an Ohio State senior who spent his morning waiting in line in an overcrowded parking garage at the Superdome.

Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch

NEW ORLEANS -- Confusion and chaos surrounded the student ticket distribution for the Final Four this morning, according to an Ohio State senior who spent his morning waiting in line in an overcrowded parking garage at the Superdome.

Jeff Seiger was one of the first Ohio State students in line when he showed up at 4:30 a.m. today at the Superdome, where nearly 2,800 students from the four participating schools – OSU, Kansas, Kentucky and Louisville – gathered to collect their discounted $25 tickets.

Under the first-come-first-served system, the earliest "campers" were supposed to have the best chance to secure lower-bowl tickets, but it did not turn out that way, said Seiger, who ended up with a seat in the upper arena.

"It was the worst distribution of tickets I've seen in my life," said Seiger, who described the scene as "a big stampede" after word spread that students were instead supposed to form a line outside the parking garage. "The original email we received said the first 355 in line would get floor seats, but that's not how it worked out. I know people were furious."

The rush of people in and out of the garage created a chaotic and potentially dangerous situation, Seiger said.

"People were falling, because there was one little ramp to get into the garage," he said. "I saw a couple people slip, and I got shoved."

Seiger said another Ohio State student suffered abrasions on his hands.

A representative of the NCAA ticket sales company said on-site Superdome personnel were responsible for making sure the ticket distribution went smoothly.

Dan Wallenberg, Ohio State assistant athletic director for communications, said tempers flared during the ticket dispersal, but it was nothing specific to OSU students.

"And it is an NCAA issue, if it is an issue at all," he wrote in a text message.